The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-20
IN DERBYsHTRE, ENGLAND.
Observations of a Georgian Who Keeps
His Eyes and Ears Open While Travel

North of England, | stopped for several
DAYS at Chesterfield, in Derbyshire. 1t IS
one of the old towns of the United King
dom. It's existence dates back to the good
old times" in England's history, SEATED III n
dale compassed in with craggcs and ROCKIES, "
and wateled by tho Rother and Hippcr, two
thickly shaded trout streams, surrounded
with a wild and picturesque country. The
Romans at an early day penetrated to TINS
quiet retreat and built an elegant road to 1t
from the southern scacoast, which has been
Il lasting monument to their enterprise and
skill
Next came the fairhaired SaxOns, who
took possession of the hamlet and erected a
strong castle, which threw its imposing
shadow over the few buildings that shell
tered its inhabitants. They also gave the
town its name. They called their castle
Cestre. and the town Cestre-m-the field
The Briton, so fond of using an II where 1t
is not intended, inserted one in this appcla-
ton and called it Chesterfield, which has
adhered until the present day. William
the Conqueror como from Normandy, and the
battle OF Senlac was fought here, where, 1t
is said, the COnqucring Duke sat down to
eat and drink among the dead" The Con
1uerOr gave this section OF country 70 ore
William Poverty, Noted Norman warrior,
who ended his career and forfeited his prop
erty by fight for poisoning the Earl OF
Chester to get possession of the EarIs pretty
wife. IN l3G4 King John gave tho posses
sion to William Briwcre. Joan, the Fair
Maid of Kent owned Chesterfield at an
early day of It's history Under the reign
of james |. it was the property of William
Cayendish, and in l7j2 it passed into the
hands of the Duke Of DevOnShire, whose de
scendants still have possession Of it. The
old Duke resides at Chatsworth, some eight
tAA,, fUD1nllg
Lord Harrington, who succeeds to
the dukedom at the old mans
death, lives at Hardwick Hall, noted
as once the prison of Mary Queen
of Scots, which is only about six miles from
Chesterfield.
IN 1856 THE TOWN LOST
about onc-fourth of its inhabitants by the
plague. In 1854 King Charles |. was the
guest of the Duke of Newcastle just four
miles from Chesterfield, at Balsaver Castle
The celebrated Ben Jonson in describing
the scene closed with the following:
''Such King
AS men would wish, that knew not how to hope
His like, but seeing him"
The first public execution took place in
1857, when five men and one woman took
''that fearful leap into the dark, f." which
well may make the stoutest heart to quake.
There were hundreds from all parts of the
country present to see the novelty-the
refined and elevating novelty of seeing
five miserable wretches dancing upon air
But times hav1 changed, and public execu-
tons are prohibited by law, and by the adj
vancement in education and public lhorals,
Chesterfield has beOme one of the most pleas
ant towns in England.
The plot for the overthrow of King James
by the Prince of Orange, was concocted in
a building which still remains with its
timew worn walls and matched moSs-grown
roof. The conspiratOrs were the first Duke
of Devonshre, the Earl of Dandy and John
Darcy. This was in 1858, nearly 200 years
ago. There will be grand celebration of
this event next year, 1888, in Chester
field. The old house will be
the grand centre of observation.
1t win be a kind of Fourth of July to the
''Englishersn and many a spread eagle
eulogy will be pronounced upon the memory
of the three great ''asserters of British free
DOM
There are many points of interest left
yet to those who are seeking antiquities
Among others is the "Old Angel" on
Packar's Row. This was tho most cele-
brated Inn" between London and Man
chester, in the good old days of ''coach-and-
four" And there are not q few who, with
John Ruslln, detest railway carriages and
Westinghouse brakes. There is a lingering
fondness to be guided through dusty by
ways by sleepy post boys, rather than
be carried fifty miles an hour
in a Pullman palace ear. And their
sorrow is not feigned however nwise it
may seem. The hotel faced the market
square, and the court in the rear was the
seene of many "a strange and wierd spectacle.
The arrival of the stage coach was the great
event of the day, and il did not make its
appearance until about ? o'clock in the
morning. There was a continual hustle and
L. 4
that unseenly hour. | will quote from Mr..
Joseph Hatton a description of an arrival
and departure:
THE GROOMS AT TIE ANGEL.
had led out into the market place four sleek
greys, with shining coats and polished
hoofs, and at the same moment you heard a
distant horn. Suddenly the precincts of the
Angel were alive with loungerS and lockers
on. The topers in the smokeroom came tc
the window and looked out tho landlord
brought his pipe into the street and re
garded the proceedings with pride, the
horses champed their bits. and presently
from the eastern corner of the market place
came tOiling along the mail coach from
London to Manchester a picture of light
and life and elegance. A whip flourished
harmlessly over the steaming team, n horn
blown merr lily behind, a flash of red and
gold, and black and silver and tho coach
puIleu up uItlci Ule Anger WlfluoW, TncrG
was a rush of grooms and stable helps
and luggage, horses and passengers almost
altogether poured into the inn yard, and in
less than five minutes the fresh team was
harnesscd. 1t was sudden hustle and ex-
element, which lasted no longer than the
arrival and departure of n railway train en-
route, and had the advantage of being more
picturesque. = While we are thinking
of the sights the passengers have seem the
whip is on the box again. Now, Bill let 90
their heads. So, no! Beauty, steady old
lass. Away You goH Forward dashes the
team, the guard swings up behind, and
Mary Kirk, standing with Susan Hardwick
at the post Office door when the mail bags
had Just been carried i'm and out, said it was
a bonay sight TO see the fast coach change
horses at the Angel
How different now. The old inn, in its
age and dilapidation, has a sleepy and UNI
inviting appearance. The crowds that used
to gather there have passed away, and it is
only tie old people who delight in the la-
gends Of the "Old Angel George Ste
phenson has lived in Chesterfield since then.
This poor herd boy, who became the orig
inator of the English railway system, spent
his last days in Chesterfield, and left his i'm
press in the establishment of broader edu-
cation for the masses, and in the improve
ment in every department of life
And now, instead of the old numbering
stage coach, ten or twenty railroad trains
leave the station every day. 1t is strange
that in this day of hero worship that no inn
posing monument has been erected IN tbc